ALBANY – Jeanine Pirro’s husband yesterday admitted holding private talks with Republican officials about his wife’s future as a Senate candidate, but claimed he was only trying to further her “political aspirations.”

Albert Pirro released a brief two-sentence statement in response to a front-page story in yesterday’s Post that revealed the secret discussions he held with a top aide to state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno about his wife’s sinking campaign.

“Any private conversations I have had were solely intended to support Jeanine’s political aspirations,” Al Pirro said.

“My wife made it very clear on Friday that she is a candidate for U.S. Senate, and I fully support her decision.”

Despite what sources told The Post were her own husband’s surprising attempts to nudge her from the race, Jeanine Pirro said in a separate statement issued a short time later that he was only looking out for her.

“Any discussions my husband may have had were with my best interest at heart,” the outgoing Westchester County district attorney said. “Any other suggestion is ridiculous.”

Jeanine Pirro did not say if she knew beforehand about her husband’s effort.

A source close to Bruno had told The Post that Albert Pirro, who has served federal prison time for tax fraud, had asked Bruno, through top aide Steve Boggess, to help convince Jeanine Pirro to drop out of the race and consider running for attorney general.

Sources said Gov. Pataki also was part of the plan.

“Everyone is in shock over this thing,” said one GOP activist yesterday. “It’s like a soap opera.”

Bruno yesterday would not comment directly on recent conversations with Albert Pirro, but reiterated his bombshell comments from last week that he believes Pirro should change to the attorney-general race.

Pataki spokesman David Catalfamo said the governor “is not part of any cabal.”

“The governor has endorsed her for the Senate and enthusiastically supports her,” Catalfamo said.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, asked during a stop in Syracuse about the latest twist in the Pirro campaign, declined to comment.

“I will wait for the Republicans to sort out their own political situation,” said the former first lady. “I have more than I can say grace over on my own side of the campaign ledger.”

With rumors flying that she was about to drop out of the race, Pirro surprised many within the party when she left a two-hour meeting with Pataki on Friday and declared she is still a Senate candidate “right now.”

Republican officials said the question no longer appears to be if Pirro will drop out of the race against Clinton, but only when.

That answer is expected to come as soon as next week, when a group of GOP county chairmen meet in Albany.

Republicans say the idea now is to use Monday’s meeting to give Pirro a face-saving way out of the Senate race by having the county chairmen come out strongly to say that she could best help the party as an attorney general candidate, thus allowing her to cite loyalty to the party in switching races.